Lobelia plant named ‘Wespinstar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Wespinstar’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with short internodes; dense and bushy plant form; continuously and freely flowering habit; and light purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Lobelia erinus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Wespinstar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Wespinstar’.

The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new vigorous Lobelia cultivars with unique flower colors.

The new Lobelia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin 2002 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as codenumber 02P616, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number02P725, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobeliawas discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultantprogeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Südlohn, Germany in 2002.

Asexual reproduction since 2003 of the new cultivar by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, has shown that theunique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wespinstar’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Wespinstar’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit with short internodes; dense and bushy        plant form.    -   4. Continuously and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescaosu can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn,Germany, plants of the new Lobelia differed from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia were denser than plant plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia and the female parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection had more intense purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescaosu can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn,Germany, plants of the new Lobelia differed from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and the male parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        had light lilac-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of the Lobeliacultivar Weslolav, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,434. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thenew Lobelia differed from plants of the cultivar Weslolav in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia had longer lateral branches than        plants of the cultivar Weslolav.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flower buds than plants        of the cultivar Weslolav.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia and the cultivar Weslolav differed        in flower color.

Plants of the cultivar Wespinstar can also be compared to the cultivarWeslowei, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,708. However inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thecultivar Wespinstar and the cultivar Weslowei differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia had longer lateral branches than        plants of the cultivar Weslowei.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flower buds and sepals        than plants of the cultivar Weslowei.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia and the cultivar Weslowei differed        in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Wespinstar’ grown in a hanging basket container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical individual flower of ‘Wespinstar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Wespinstar have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photographs and following description were grown in aglass-covered greenhouse and conditions that closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the spring and summer inSüdlohn, Germany. Plants were grown as one plant per 12-cm container orthree plants per 25-cm hanging basket container. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched one time.Plants were about 22 weeks from planting when the photographs anddescription were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus cultivar Wespinstar.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus            identified as code number 02P616, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus            identified as code number 02P725, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 to 18 days at 18° C. to 20°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 21 to 24 days at            18° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Cascading flowering plants with light            purple-colored flowers. Lateral shoots outwardly spreading;            plants uniform with dense foliage. Freely branching with            lateral branches forming at every node; dense and bushy            plant habit. Pinching plants enhances branching. Moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and            patio containers.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 12 cm            to 20 cm.        -   Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices).—About            40 cm to 50 cm.        -   Branch description.—Primary branch length: About 37 cm.            Primary branch diameter: About 2.3 mm. Secondary branch            length: About 19.8 cm. Secondary branch diameter: About            1.2 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent to glabrous. Color: 137A to 137B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;            sessile. Basal leaves: Length: About 5.1 cm. Width: About            1.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Emarginate. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Nearly entire with occasional            indentations. Mid-plant leaves: Length: About 3.5 cm. Width:            About 1.3 cm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Nearly entire with occasional            indentations. Apical leaves: Length: About 2.1 cm. Width:            About 4.5 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, all leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: Sparsely pubescent to glabrous. Color, all leaves:            Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing foliage,            lower surface: 147B. Fully developed foliage, upper surface:            147A to 147B; venation, 147A to 147B. Fully developed            foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers arranged singly at lateral            apices. Flowers held mostly outwardly. Flowers persistent.            Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage.            Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular with three larger lower petals and two            upright petals.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on weather conditions; typically            three to ten days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.1 cm. Tube length: About            7 mm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 4 mm. Tube            diameter, proximal end: About 2 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Color: 144C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused;            three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals.            Three lower petals: Shape: Broadly oblong. Length, above            throat: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Two upper petals:            Shape: Oblanceolate. Length, above throat: About 6 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Upper and lower petals: Apex: Cuspidate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: N81A. When            opening, lower surface: 76B to 76C. Fully opened, upper            surface: N82A to N82B; venation, similar as petal color.            Fully opened, lower surface: 76C; venation, similar to petal            color. Throat: 155C; spots, 79C; venation, 144A. Tube: 76C;            venation, 144A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals,            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 6.5 mm. Width: About            1.1 mm. Shape: Apiculate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Appearance: Wiry, flexible. Length: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter: About 0.7 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent to            glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five, fused. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther diameter:            About 1.6 mm. Anther color: Between 77A and N92A. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 9A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape:            Obovate. Stigma texture: Pubescent. Stigma color: N79A.            Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 146D. Ovary color:            147B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Wespinstar’, asillustrated and described.